The result has handed the league title initiative to Liverpool, who can close the gap on leaders City to just one point if they can win their game in hand against Arsenal on Tuesday.
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Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace in the Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park Stadium on Monday. The result has handed the league title initiative to Liverpool, who can close the gap on leaders City to just one point if they can win their game in hand against Arsenal on Tuesday. Crystal Palace put up a stiff resilience as Pep Guardiola’s side were left frustrated by the stalemate. The home goalkeeper Vincente Guaita had a brilliant game between the sticks, having denied Riyad Mahrez after Kevin de Bruyne’s effort struck the post inside the hour-mark.
Points shared at Selhurst Park ?#CRYMCI pic.twitter.com/QrSvmKCGYQ
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 14, 2022
Crystal Palace got two good chances early on, because of mistakes from City defenders. First up, Conor Gallagher stole the ball from Aymeric Laporte and spreaded it to Wilfied Zaha but the winger wasted it with a poor effort. And then, Kyle Walker’s poor back pass under pressure allowed the hosts to breakaway but Ederson made a good save to deny Michael Olise from inside the box.
After the initial hiccup, City started to control the game and their first effort came through De Bruyne’s lone-ranger which was spilled up by Guaita, but Bernardo Silva failed to control the rebound and the ball rolled out of play.
Joao Cancelo played a brilliant overhead ball to find the run of De Bruyne inside the box but the playmaker’s improvised first-time volley was parried away by Guaita. Cancelo’s powerful long-ranger struck the woodwork and the rebound was ballooned over the bar by Laporte.
Eleven minutes after the break, Jack Grealish slid the ball through for De Bruyne, the Belgian’s effort struck the far post and then Mahrez’ shot from the rebound was kept out by Guaita’s quick reflex save.
De Bruyne’s inch-perfect pass found Grealish down the right channel but his low cross was agonisingly just too far in front of the outstretched Silva. De Bruyne continued to pull the strings as his lofted pass found Phil Foden but Gehi was back to produce a perfect tackle six yards out.
Despite 18 shots and 46 touches in the opposition box as part of 74 per cent possession, City were met by a red and blue wall. Patrick Vieira’s side became only the second side to stop Manchester City scoring home and away in a Premier League season after Manchester United in 2020/21.
Manchester City vs Liverpool: Talking points from the action-packed draw
